Effects of leukocyte filtering on the inflammatory response and pulmonary function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is related to leukocyte activation, inflammatory response and lung dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CPB-leukocyte filtration on the inflammatory response and lung function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: After approval by the institutional ethics committee and informed consent, a prospective randomized study was performed to compare CABG-patients undergoing CPB-leukocyte filtration (n=9) or standard CPB (n=11). Espirometry, chest computed tomography (CT), oxygenation analysis and leukocyte count were performed before surgery. Anesthesia induction was performed intravenously with etomidate (0,3 mg.kg-1), sufentanil (0,3 ug.kg-1), pancuronium bromide (0,08 mg.kg-1) e sustained with isoflurano (0,5 - 1,0 CAM) and sufentanil (0,5 ug.kg-1.h-1). The tidal volume used during mechanical ventilation was 8 mL.kg-1, the FiO2 0.6 and PEEP 5 cm H2O, except during CPB. In Filtered group, during CPB, was inserted a leukocyte filter in the arterial line of CPB circuit (LG-6, Pall Biomedical Products) and, in Control group, the Standard arterial line filter was utilized. Hemodynamic data, PaO2/FiO2, shunt fraction, interleukins, elastase and myeloperoxidase were evaluated before and after CPB, at the end of surgery, and 6, 12 and 24 h PO. Thirty minutes after induction, and Thirty after CPB, three sequential exhaled air samples were collected to perform analysis of nitric oxide (NO), by chemiluminescence technique. Espirometry and chest CT were performed on first PO. Data were analyzed using two-factor ANOVA for repeated measurements. RESULTS: Length of CPB was similar in the filtered and control groups (86.78 ± 19.58 versus 104.64 ± 27.76 min, p = 0.161). The filtered group showed lower neutrophil counts than the control group up to 50 minutes of CPB (3384 ± 2025 versus 6478 ± 3582 U/mm-3, p = 0.036), lower shunt fraction up to 6 hours after surgery (10 ± 2%)...